With the draft in the rearview mirror, things are focusing back on the ice for a few days. Five of the Lightning’s newest draft picks are attending with Stepan Shurygin the lone player not attending. A total of 27 players are skating in two different groups over the next couple of days with the always anticipated 3-on-3 tournament taking place at the end of the week. All of the on-ice sessions and the tournament are open to the public.
FORWARDS (16)
65 ANDERBERG, Morgan
54 BURROWS, Hagen
60 CONNOR, Joe
45 CZATA, Ethan
83 DEZAINDE, Carlin*
95 FOSTER, Aiden
58 KULEBIAKIN, Oleg
68 KURTH, Connor
61 MATHIEU, Jacob*
84 MIGNOSA, Marco
23 O’REILLY, Sam
64 PRIDHAM, Jack
92 SHAUGABAY, Jayson
62 SOLLER, Cooper
85 THOMAS-MAROON, Anthony*
47 VEINBERGS, Klavs
DEFENSEMEN (7)
44 ARNETT, Elliot*
97 BALDWIN, Everett
79 CLARK, Warren
55 GOLICIC, Jan
82 KRALOVIC, Tomas
48 SPADA, Grant
76 VILEN, Max
GOALTENDERS (4)
34 BETTS, Gavin*
70 HEIL, Caleb
35 LEROUX, Danick*
1 MENEGHIN, Harrison
This year’s camp features six invitees (marked by an *) including a familiar name – Anthony Thomas-Maroon. Yup, that is Pat Maroon’s kid. Congratulations to feeling old. The younger Maroon was draft eligible this season but did not hear his name called following a season in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks where he put up 2 goals and 17 assists in 59 games. Labeled one of the “most willing and violent hitters” in the draft by Elite Prospects the 6’0″ left-wing will be heading to the London Knights this season and is committed to Western Michigan.
For the recent draft picks, it’s a good introduction to what is expected at the NHL level. There will be a lot instruction on the ice as they see what pro-level workouts are like. There are usually a few NHLers hanging around the arenas getting their unofficial off-season workouts in, and it appears this summer is no different as Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov were spotted on the ice.
Hockey News
List of restricted free agents that weren’t qualified [Daily FaceOff]
In his post-draft press conference, general manager Julien BriseBois wasn’t quite sure if the Lightning’s lone restricted free agent, Ethan Samson, had been offered a contract. As of this morning we are still waiting on confirmation if he was tendered. [9:30 AM update: The Lightning have confirmed that Samson was not offered a contract. He is now an unrestricted free agent] A couple of former Bolt prospects in Amir Miftakhov and Wojciech Stachowiak are now unrestricted free agents.
Other intriguing names are Cole Schwindt (Florida), Matias Maccelli (Toronto), and Bobby Brink (Minnesota). Mr. BriseBois was able to take advantage of last year’s set of newly crowned UFAs when he brought in Pontus Holmberg and Jakob Pelletier. We’ll see if he does it again this summer.
Radko Gudas’ rights traded to Florida [Litterbox Cats]
The Panthers are just trolling the NHL right now, right? The swapped the rights to pending UFA AJ Greer to Anaheim for the rights to old friend Radko Gudas on Monday. That gives the teams an extra couple of days to talk to the respective players prior to July 1. There have been a few similar deals over the last week, perhaps in response to the league reportedly cracking down on teams circumventing the negotiation period.
Brendan Gallagher traded to Vancouver [Habs’ Eyes on the Prize]
An actual trade that didn’t include unrestricted free agents happened between Vancouver and Montreal. Canadiens legend Brendan Gallagher is heading west as he was traded to Vancouver for future considerations. Montreal is also retaining 50% of the $6.5 million cap hit Gallagher has this season, the last of his current contract. The organization did their longest-tenured player a favor by sending him to a spot where he will probably have a regular role. It also sets Vancouver up for a double-retention on his cap hit if Gallagher has a strong season and they can flip him at the deadline.
Akira Schmid traded to Florida [Knights on Ice]
The Panthers have a goaltender. Not sure if he is THE goaltender, but Schmid gives them some experience in net at a minimal cap hit.
Buffalo Sabres sign Beck Malenstyn to long-term deal [Die by the Blade]
The Sabres locked in one of their key bottom-six forwards to a long-term deal as Beck Malenstyn inks a six-year contract with an AAV of $2.92 million. Even if he doesn’t put a ton of points on the board he fits into the Sabres style of play as one of their better forecheckers.
